Fuel price hike inevitable, says Chidambaram

Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram (centre) interacts with State Congress president K.V.Thangkabalu (left) at a public meeting held in Tirupur on Monday. Former Minister E.V.K.S. Elangovan (right) is in this picture. Photo: M. Balaji

Stating that the recent fuel price hike was inevitable, Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram has said that the UPA Government is taking all measures to minimise the impact through a host of other fiscal measures.

“It is only when the international crude oil price soared from $60 a barrel last year to $80, the domestic fuel price was increased.

People should remember that crude oil price stood at just $25 a barrel when BJP government was in power at the Centre and the hike in barrel prices was decided by Arab nations,” he added.

Mr. Chidambaram was speaking at a public function organised by the Congress to highlight the pro-people measures taken by the UPA Government in the last six years, here on Monday.

He also listed out the welfare measures taken by the UPA Government. He said that it was only when Congress-led UPA government came to power the economy started growing in a steady manner. During the BJP regime, the growth rate was just 5.5 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) whereas it was nine percent in the first five years of UPA rule.

He pointed out that despite the recessional trend, the country registered 7.4 per cent growth last fiscal even as countries like United States and England recorded just two percent and one per cent growth, respectively, for the same period. He challenged CPI (M) to hold elections in West Bengal now if they had the confidence to face the electors after their poor governance in the last 33 years and the routing in the recent elections. Senior leaders EV.K.S. Elangovan, K. V. Thankgabalu and Karti Chidambaram, also spoke.